Tottenham v. Arsenal 2-1 14/Apr/10

Vermaelen in the grass.


The manner in which the Gunners lost their title hopes was quite of a show for the home supporters at the Lane today: a bummer from Almunia and the entrance of Robin Van Persie showed two faces. Losing a ten year record should be the least important thing as the Gunners were completely ousted until the entrance of the Dutch striker. Probably Spurs' hopes for Champions League next season will be hampered at some point but that does not take away the sweet taste of victory.

Aside from the Spurs game, the previous week was full of transfer rumours and the sort-Cesc Warning as well as some shocking news in pre-match such as Lady Nina+'s stakes. The commented European crash was paired with Spurs' FA Cup exit at the hands of Pompey.

Regarding the reactions there were some which were voiced and truthfully gave the deserved beating. Zonal Marking offered some advice to why Arsenal defence are so crap at times. We all know that if it wasn't for the dexterity of some of Gomes' interventions the game could have easily ended with two goals shared in equal parts; Van Persie himself admitted it.



Even Gareth Bale scored.
[Photo: Empics via Soccernet]


The ecstatic atmosphere was kept at bay when Campbell shot at point-blank; Assou-Ekotto saved in the line. The hostile response to Arsenal's centre-back was paired with a thunderous beginning of the Spurs. The visitors held the erratic game for at least ten minutes. Unfortunately for the Gunners, Danny Rose entered Tottenham's annals after scoring a stunner in the tenth minute; with that goal probably one could say that the match was over. It was one of those goals in which, locals and visitors, take pride on remembering. To say that Almunia had the fault could be quite erratic.

Just as if things were not bad enough, Arsenal's star defender Vermaelen apparently strained his right calf and Mikaël Sylvestre substituted him: the combined age of Arsenal's centre-back was of 345 years. The match entered into a deadlock and as it was suggested in ESPN broadcast the game needed "a wonder-goal to make the difference". As two players got booked, each team with one, the match first half began to fade. Kaboul managed to get free after some contact with Rosicky; the set piece summarised Arsenal's half, wide and unlucky.



Nicklas Bendtner bags the late hope.
[Photo: Daily Mirror]


Strangely the untalented ex-Gunner David Bentley replaced the star of the game due to some problems with knee ligaments. But as the first seconds of the match ticked, the nightmare began. If there was some way of putting the Gunners' faith into doubt it was through a "dressing room goal". Garreth Bale found an impressive pass from Defoe and finished to the near post. The outstanding assistance from the England international player was the difference. The prospect of seeing Robin van Persie on the pitch in the nearest future was not only necessary but mandatory.

Theo Walcott came, substituting Sagna, but nothing really changed since the Spurs kept their attacking waves coming. With moral as high as the freaking Himalaya, the whites managed to handle the pressure according to what was established at the beginning of the match. There was no way in which the Gunners could have even approached the faint hope of scoring; all efforts from Nasri were utter hopeless. The visitors were expecting that the sole genius of Robin Van Persie -after five months in the sidelines- could save them from an astonishing historical defeat.

When he was introduced in the game -in the 68th minute- this faint of hope was foreseeable; his first touch was pure delight as he showed us what we have been missing for the last months. This momentum by the Gunners was followed by three chances created by the Dutchman himself. The advances by the Gunners left all the rear-guard defenceless and the scenario for counterattacks was suitable. Diaby lobbed as Van Persie chest-controlled and shot, just to be saved by Gomes.

The final ten minutes brought the best the Gunners had against the Spurs as another siege put the home team to the wall. In the 83th minute the Spurs relied on the prowess of under-fire Gomes as he saved a brilliant Van Persie free-kick and a Campbell header to the post. All the luck of the world couldn't prevent the Gunners from scoring as Van Persie released Walcott and Bendtner pushed. With five minutes to go the cardiac moments were not yet to come; the scoreline remained with one-goal deficit for the red Londoners.